Will a
traffic signal help reduce accidents? How does the Town decide where to install
traffic signals?
Signals don't always prevent crashes
The Town of Gilbert's Traffic Engineering Department wants to ensure that when
a traffic signal is installed at a specific location, traffic and pedestrian
safety are improved. Traffic signals do not always reduce
the total number of crashes at an intersection, but the types and severity of
crashes may change.

When is a signal installed?

Traffic signals are a tremendous investment for the Town. Design and
installation costs exceed $500,000 for every signal installed (plus monthly
power and maintenance costs). Therefore, the Town carefully prioritizes where
and when traffic signals will be installed.

When determining whether or not a traffic signal is necessary at a specific
location, the Gilbert Traffic Engineering Department evaluates and tries to
answer several questions:

How
much traffic is on the main streets and minor streets,

Are
high levels of traffic consistent throughout the day or just during a short
period?

Are
there many pedestrians?

Is
the street a wide, high speed, and busy thoroughfare?

Are
school children crossing the street?

Will
a signal improve the flow of traffic or cause congestion with other nearby
signals?

Is
there a pattern of crash types that are correctable with a signal?

National
Standards

The Town of Gilbert collects data which includes traffic volume, crash data, physical characteristics at a location
that is being considered for a traffic signal. Once the data are collected,
they are compared to standards that have been established by extensive research
and experience. The standards used are referred to as a Traffic Signal Warrant Analysis, are used by traffic
engineers throughout the United States to help in determining appropriate signal
locations. The Town of Gilbert conducts Traffic Signal Warrant Analysis
annually at 10 to 20 intersections.

A properly placed signal can improve the flow of traffic and decrease
accidents. An unnecessary one can be the source of danger and annoyance to all
who use the intersection including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.

If you would like an intersection considered for a traffic signal please call 480-503-6186.

Drawbacks to a signal

Signals cause unnecessary delays to drivers during certain times of the day.
This increase in delay increases air pollution. It can also cause driver
frustration if there is not much traffic on the major street.

Children at Play Signs

When are
warning signs used?

Warning
signs are most effective when used sparingly and are intended to advise
motorists of an unusual or unexpected condition ahead. These signs have little
value as they become overused.

National
studies have shown that many signs which warn of normal conditions in
residential areas fail to improve safety. Since children live on just about
every single block in the Gilbert, there would have to be signs on every single
street in Gilbert. Blocks without signs might imply that no children live
there, so it is okay to speed.

Not an
official sign

The Town
of Gilbert must comply with state and federal laws when it comes to traffic
control devices. The "Children at Play" sign is not a recognized sign
by the national "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices." The
primary reason that the sign is not approved for use is that research has
proven that the sign does not reduce pedestrian accidents or lower vehicle
speeds.

Promoting
a false sense of security

Some neighborhood
traffic control signs, designed with the intent to provide security and safety
for the families who live there, can often have the exact opposite results. The
"Children at Play" sign is perhaps the best example. Residents
may have the wrong impression that somehow with the sign it is safer to play in
the street. The signs may also encourage parents to believe that there is some
added protection in the neighborhood. This is
simply not the case. Children should be taught that the street is not a place
to play. It is intended for cars and bicycles. Further, children must be taught
that not all drivers are watching out for children.

For more
information...

The Town
of Gilbert Traffic Engineering Department wants to work with you to ensure your
safety. For additional driving and safety tips, please call 503- 6186.

Walk/Don't Walk Indications

To this
day, the Walk/Don't Walk lights at a signalized intersection are one of the
most commonly misunderstood traffic control devices.

"WALK"

The WALK
symbol is indicated by either the word WALK or the symbol of a person walking.
In both cases, the color of the indication is white. The WALK indication is
typically on for 4 - 8 seconds. When the WALK is illuminated, it is okay for a
person to enter the street or begin crossing.

Flashing
"DON'T WALK"

The
flashing DON'T WALK indication is an orange flashing symbol of a hand, and will
provide a countdown timer until the indication changes to “Don’t Walk.

After the
4 - 8 seconds of WALK time, the signal will begin to flash DON'T WALK. Most
pedestrians will not have made it all the way across the street by this time.
THIS IS HOW THE SIGNAL IS SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION. If you are already crossing the
street, you will have plenty of time to make it to the other side. If you have
not begun to cross, DO NOT step off the curb.

"DON'T
WALK"

When the
DON'T WALK signal is on and not flashing, DO NOT step into the street or begin
crossing. Push the Button

WALK indications do not activate during
every cycle of the traffic signal In order to bring up the WALK indication, you
must push the pedestrian button located on the traffic signal pole. By using this
button, you will have enough time to cross the street once the WALK signal
appears.

Speed Limit Signs

Will a lower speed limit slow traffic down?

It is a common myth that posting slower speed limit signs forces drivers to
slow down and will result in fewer traffic accidents. National research has
shown that drivers are influenced by the prevailing traffic conditions and the
type of street, not the posted speed limit.

The Law in Arizona

From Arizona Revised Statutes 28-701 'A person shall not drive a vehicle on a
highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the
circumstances, conditions and actual and potential hazards then existing. A
person shall control the speed of a vehicle as necessary to avoid colliding
with any object, person, vehicle or other conveyance on, entering or adjacent
to the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all
persons to exercise reasonable care for the protection of others.'

Except as provided elsewhere in the statute or except if a special hazard
requires a lesser speed, any speed in excess of the following speeds is prima
facie evidence that the speed is too great and therefore unreasonable:

1. Fifteen miles per hour approaching a school crossing

2. Twenty-five miles per hour in a business or residential district unless
otherwise posted

Gilbert's
policy on speed limit signs

Speed limit signs are typically installed at quarter-mile intervals on the
major arterial streets such as Cooper Road, Elliot Road, and Val Vista Drive.

Signs are also posted at half-mile intervals on collector streets such as
Houston Avenue, Burk Street, and Neely Street.

Finally, 25 mph speed limit signs are installed at the entrances to
subdivisions where the speed limit changes from a higher limit (30, 35 or 45
mph) to the residential speed limit (25 mph). It is not practical to install
speed limit signs at the end of every residential street in the Town of
Gilbert.

Speed Limits -

The local authority which establishes speed limits is Gilbert's Town Council, these speeds are established by Town Ordinance. Consideration is given to the street classification type, i.e. residential, collector, minor arterial or major arterial when determining speed limit. The Traffic Engineering Department can verify that a posted speed limit sign is appropriated for a specific street however, requests for increasing or lowering a speed limit should be sent directly to Town Council.

Stop Signs

Under the right conditions, STOP signs can play an important role in traffic
safety, by assigning right of way to vehicles at intersections

Will more stop signs slow traffic on my street?

Many requests are received for STOP signs to interrupt traffic or slow traffic
down. However, studies in Arizona and across the nation show that there are a
high number of intentional violations when STOP signs are installed as
nuisances or speed breakers.

Under the right conditions, STOP signs can play an important role in traffic
safety. However, STOP signs installed in the wrong place usually create more
problems than they solve.

Stop signs are installed at an intersection only after a careful engineering
evaluation of the existing conditions indicates that their installation is
appropriate.

Four-way STOPS are only helpful when traffic volumes are high and close to
equal on all approaches to an intersection.

What is the law regarding who has the right of way?

When two vehicles enter an intersection from different streets at the same
time, the driver on the left shall yield right-of-way to the driver on the
right. The only exception is at a "T" (or 3-leg) intersection where
the driver on the through street has the right-of-way.

Will the Town look into my concerns about stop signs?

The Town receives many requests every year to install STOP signs. The Town uses
its engineering standards and the national standards to determine whether a
STOP sign is a useful and reasonable traffic control device for that location.
The Town will not install stop sign to “slow” traffic on streets.

Low volume streets within neighborhoods tend to operate best under the state
right-of-way law. This law requires drivers to approach an intersection
cautiously and to control their speed to a reasonable level.